The Latest: Thomas Keller lawyer denies discrimination
FILE - This March 9, 2017, file photo, shows celebrated chef Thomas Keller in the kitchen of his French Laundry restaurant in Yountville, Calif. A former employee of celebrated chef Thomas Keller is suing him and his three-star Michelin restaurants, Per Se in New York and the French Laundry in California, for discrimination, saying she was denied a job transfer and ultimately let go because she was pregnant. Vanessa Scott-Allen is seeking $5 million in damages for allegations that include sex discrimination and violation of pregnancy disability leave and says she hopes her trial, which starts Monday, June 3, 2019, will draw attention to a "culture of misogyny in fine dining," said her attorney, Carla Minnard. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)
The Latest on chef Thomas Keller's pregnancy discrimination trial (all times local):
5:35 p.m.
An attorney for the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group says that a former employee who has accused the chef's acclaimed New York and California restaurants of discrimination was let go because of performance issues not her pregnancy.
The San Francisco Chronicle quoted a company lawyer as saying in court Monday that Vanessa Scott-Allen misconstrued pleasantries as a formal job offer.
Scott-Allen says she was denied a job transfer from Per Se in New York to the French Laundry in California and ultimately let go shortly after her bosses learned she was pregnant.
Defense attorney Michael Bruno said the French Laundry's general manager Michael Minnillo had previously worked with Scott-Allen in New York and did not want to hire her because of her work performance at Per Se.
The trial started Monday in Napa County Superior Court.
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7:00 a.m.
A former employee of celebrated American chef Thomas Keller is suing him and his three-star Michelin restaurants for pregnancy discrimination.
Vanessa Scott-Allen says she was denied a job transfer from Per Se in New York to the French Laundry in California and ultimately let go because she was pregnant.
She is seeking $5 million in damages for allegations that include sex discrimination and violation of pregnancy disability leave.
Her lawyer says Scott-Allen hopes her trial will highlight a "culture of misogyny" in fine dining.
The trial opens Monday in Napa Valley.